Evaluation of paediatric pulmonary vein stenosis by cardiac CT angiography: a comparative study with transthoracic echocardiography and catheter angiogram

R. Salman, S. R. More, M. P. Ferreira Botelho, P. M. Ketwaroo, P. M. Masand, S. P. Jadhav

Texas Children’s Hospital and Baylor College of Medicine. Virtual Radiologic Corporation.
United States

Clinical Radiology
Clin Radiol 2023;
DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2023.06.002

Abstract
Aim: To compare prospective electrocardiogram (ECG)-gated cardiac computed tomographic angiography (CCTA) with transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and cardiac catheter angiography (CCA) for paediatric pulmonary vein (PV) stenosis.
Materials and methods: Retrospective chart review was undertaken of all patients who underwent CCTA for PV evaluation over a 4-year period. Patient demographics, findings of CCTA, TTE, and CCA, as well as interventions performed, were recorded for each PV.
Results: Thirty-five patients were included (23 male patients). All patients had a prior TTE with time interval between TTE and CCTA ranging from 0 to 90 days. CCTA detected 92 abnormalities in 32 patients. TTE missed 16 PV abnormalities (16/92, 17%), detected 37 abnormalities with certainty (37/92, 40%), and was suggestive in 39 abnormalities (39/92, 42%). CCTA was negative for PV abnormalities when TTE was positive or suspicious in three patients. Nineteen patients underwent CCA (18 patients with 52 abnormalities and one patient with normal PV), confirming CCTA findings. Thirty-nine were treated with angioplasty/stenting (39/52,75%). Failed recanalisation occurred in three PVs (3/52, 6%) and no intervention was attempted for the rest as the gradient was not significant (10/52,19%). Nine patients underwent surgical repair (26/92, 28%). Five patients (14/92, 15%) were managed with no intervention based on CCTA findings and poor clinical prognosis.
Conclusions: CCTA plays an important role in detecting paediatric PV stenosis and identifies additional findings compared to TTE that have direct surgical/interventional implications. CCTA complements TTE in imaging these patients and helps guide management.

Category
Stenosis or Obstruction of Normal Pulmonary Venous Connections
Absence or Atresia of Normal Pulmonary Venous Connections
Stenosis or Obstruction of Pulmonary Veins Following Surgical Repair of Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connections
Diagnostic Testing. Noninvasive
Diagnostic Testing. Invasive
Catheter-mediated Interventions: Efficacy or Lack of Efficacy
Surgical Interventions for Pulmonary Venous Obstruction After the Onset of Disease

Year of Publication: 2023

Age Focus: Pediatric

Article Type: Retrospective Observational Cohort Studies (>10 patients)

Article Access: Free PDF File or Full Text Article Available Through PubMed or DOI: No